Asphalt Paver Having Non-Stick Liner

ABSTRACT

An asphalt paver is provided. The asphalt paver includes a hopper configured to receive asphalt. The hopper includes an inner surface having at least one corner of an apron of the hopper. A non-stick liner is replaceably affixed to the at least one corner and configured to prevent the asphalt received at the hopper from sticking to the at least one corner. A conveyor configured to move the asphalt received on the non-stick liner to a paving surface on which the asphalt paver moves is provided.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This patent disclosure relates generally to paving systems, and more particularly, to a non-stick liner for an asphalt paver.

BACKGROUND

In a conventional asphalt paving system, a hot mix of asphalt is delivered to the paving system with trucks, remixing transfer equipment, and/or windrow elevators. The asphalt is fed into a hopper of the conventional asphalt paver and from there, to a centrally located conveyor. In such a conventional asphalt paving system, asphalt may become stuck in the corners of the hopper despite design features intended to feed all the asphalt material towards the conveyor (including folding wings of the hopper). When such asphalt becomes stuck, it may cool and become hard. If such cooled and hardened material then becomes entrained again in the asphalt, it may result in a cold lump in a pavement that cannot then be adequately compacted by the conventional asphalt paver, resulting in lost opportunities for optimal pavement performance. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 8,562,249 discusses applying a replaceable synthetic coating, particularly a film, with a clamping mechanism to attach the film to a storage container of a paving machine The storage container to which such a film is applied receives paving material for paving sports surfaces, jogging surfaces, etc. The film coating aims to prevent adhesion of the paving material to the storage container. However, clamping the film is unreliable as the clamps used may come off during operation of the paving machine. Further, clamping the entire inner surface of the storage container with the clamped film increases costs as the film is an expensive item.

Accordingly, there is a need to resolve these problems and other problems related to the conventional asphalt pavers.

SUMMARY

In one aspect, an asphalt paver is provided. The asphalt paver includes a hopper configured to receive asphalt. The hopper includes an inner surface having at least one corner of an apron of the hopper. A non-stick liner is replaceably affixed to the at least one corner and configured to prevent the asphalt received at the hopper from sticking to the at least one corner. A conveyor configured to move the asphalt received on the non-stick liner to a paving surface on which the asphalt paver moves is provided.

In another aspect, a method of making an asphalt paver is provided. The method includes providing a hopper configured to receive asphalt, the hopper including an inner surface having at least one corner of an apron of the hopper. The method includes providing a non-stick liner replaceably affixed to the at least one corner and configured to prevent the asphalt received at the hopper from sticking to the at least one corner. The method includes providing a conveyor configured to move the asphalt received on the non-stick liner to a paving surface on which the asphalt paver moves.

In yet another aspect, a hopper of an asphalt paver is provided. The hopper includes an inner surface including an apron configured to receive an asphalt. The apron includes at least one corner. A non-stick tape is replaceably affixed to the at least one corner. The non-stick tape is configured to prevent the received asphalt from sticking to the at least one corner.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a paving system including an asphalt paver, in accordance with an aspect of this disclosure;

FIG. 2 illustrates a non-stick liner on a hopper of the asphalt paver, in accordance with an aspect of this disclosure;

FIG. 3 illustrates a non-stick spray coating on a hopper of the asphalt paver, in accordance with an aspect of this disclosure;

FIG. 4 illustrates a top view of the hopper, in accordance with an aspect of this disclosure;

FIG. 5 illustrates the non-stick liner and/or the non-stick spray coating applied to a hydraulic apron of the hopper, in accordance with an aspect of this disclosure;

FIG. 6 illustrates the non-stick liner and/or the non-stick spray coating applied to a manual apron of the hopper, in accordance with an aspect of this disclosure;

FIG. 7 illustrates the non-stick liner and/or the non-stick spray coating applied to an entirety of an inner surface of the hopper, in accordance with an aspect of this disclosure;

FIG. 8 illustrates the non-stick liner applied to at least one corner of the hopper, in accordance with an aspect of this disclosure; and

FIG. 9 illustrates a method for making an asphalt paver, in accordance with an aspect of this disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various aspects of the present disclosure are applicable generally to paving systems. More particularly, various aspects of the present disclosure are applicable to an asphalt paver 102 having a non-stick liner 202.

Referring to FIG. 1, a paving system 100 is illustrated, according to an aspect of the present disclosure. As shown in the accompanied figures, the paving system 100 may include the asphalt paver 102. The asphalt paver 102 may rest or move on a paving surface (not shown). A person of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that in addition to the asphalt paver 102, the paving system 100 may also include any other machine used to carry, store, and/or supply an asphalt 210 (shown in FIGS. 2-3) as well, including but not limited to trucks, carriers, windrow elevators, remixing transfer equipment, and the like, coupled to and/or accompanying the asphalt paver 102. The term “asphalt” may relate to an asphalt material, including an aggregate of rocks, stones, sand, and tar, or a mixture of the asphalt material with other material(s) suitable for paving, as known to one of ordinary skill in the art. Generally, the asphalt 210 is granular in appearance and structure with varying sizes and shapes of the individual granules.

The asphalt paver 102 of the paving system 100 may include drive tracks 104 for moving the asphalt paver 102 and/or other components of the paving system 100 along the paving surface of a roadway or a worksite. The drive tracks 104 are powered by an engine (not shown) housed within an engine compartment 106. A hopper 108 may be positioned forwardly of the engine compartment 106. The hopper 108 may be configured to receive the asphalt 210 from a dump truck or the like into the hopper 108. The asphalt 210 may be at an appropriate temperature, e.g., above 170° C., when poured into the hopper 108.

In one aspect, a conveyor 110 and a walking floor 120 may be present in the hopper 108. The conveyor 110 may serve to move the asphalt 210 rearwardly through the hopper 108, through a tunnel 112 defined in or below the engine compartment 106, eventually to the paving surface on which the asphalt paver 102 moves. Parameters related to the conveyor 110 such as, for example, length, use of single or multiple conveyors, and the like, might vary without any limitation. The walking floor 120 may be adjacent the conveyor 110 and is configured to convey at least a portion of the asphalt 210 to the conveyor 110. In one aspect, the walking floor 120 is optional.

A spreading or distribution mechanism (not shown) may be configured to distribute the asphalt 210 conveyed by the conveyor 110 to the paving surface of the roadway or the worksite. To this end, the conveyor 110 may move the asphalt 210 from the hopper 108 (in a direction indicated by the arrowhead P), through or under the engine compartment 106 and to the spreading mechanism located at a rear end 114 of the asphalt paver 102. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the distribution mechanism may include a laterally extending trough to receive the asphalt 210 from the conveyor 110. Moreover, a pair of augers (not shown) may be rotatably mounted within the trough for spreading the asphalt 210 material on the roadway for the worksite forwardly of a screed (not shown) attached to the rear end 114 of the asphalt paver 102. The screed may serve to press and level the asphalt 210 on the roadway or the worksite. Further, the asphalt paver 102 may also include an operator station 116. The operator station 116 may accommodate an operator to control the asphalt paver 102. Alternatively, the operator station 116 may be optional and the asphalt paver 102 may then be remotely controlled, e.g., via a satellite system communicating with a remote base control station (not shown).

In one aspect of this disclosure, the hopper 108 includes an inner surface 118. The term “inner” as used with respect to the inner surface 118 of the hopper 108 may refer to one or more surfaces of the hopper 108 over which the asphalt 210 is poured onto, at an appropriate temperature, and passes over. The inner surface 118 is configured to receive the asphalt 210 from an asphalt mixer or a truck, and to temporarily store and/or subsequently move the received asphalt 210 (at a high temperature) towards the conveyor 110 for paving. At least a part of the inner surface 118 or an entirety of the inner surface 118 may be painted or may be bare metal. The asphalt 210 poured into the hopper 108 may have a tendency to stick, and eventually cool on, the various parts of the hopper 108, for example, on various portions, surfaces and corners of the inner surface 118.

The inner surface 118 may include an apron 122. The apron 122 is generally located at a front end of the hopper 108, the front side being directionally opposite to the rear end 114 of the asphalt paver 102. The apron 122 may include one or more inclined and/or planar surfaces as illustrated in the various figures. The apron 122 is configured to slide or move the asphalt 210 onto the conveyor 110. The apron 122 may be hydraulic or manual. Surfaces of the hopper 108 that extend beyond or outside the apron 122 may be referred to as non-apron surfaces of the hopper 108. The apron 122 and the non-apron surfaces are further illustrated and discussed with respect to FIGS. 4-7. The apron 122 and the non-apron surfaces of the hopper 108 outside the apron 122 may include planar surfaces and/or curved surfaces over which the asphalt 210 may pass or slide.

The inner surface 118 may include a plurality of corners 118A, 118B, 122A, 122B, 408A, 408B (illustrated, for example, in FIG. 4) formed by two or more intersecting edges of two or more planar surfaces in the inner surface 118 of the hopper 108. For example, two or more planar surfaces of the inner surface 118 may intersect at an edge to form the plurality of corners 118A, 118B, 122A, 122B, 408A, and 408B. In another example, three planar surfaces may intersect to form the plurality of corners 118A, 118B, 122A, 122B, 408A, 408B. That is, the term “corner” may be related to a corner or an edge in the inner surface 118. It will be appreciated that a number and location of the plurality of corners 118A, 118B, 122A, 122B, 408A, 408B is illustrated by way of example only and not by way of limitation, as other corners located at different parts of the inner surface 118 may be present, depending upon a specific shape and geometry of the inner surface 118 and/or of the hopper 108 in general. In one aspect of this disclosure, the apron 122 may be bounded by flashings 129 located forwardly of the apron 122 to contain the asphalt 210 falling on the inner surface 118 of the hopper 108. In this aspect, a surface of the flashings 129 facing or nearer to the apron 122 may also at least partly define the inner surface 118 of the hopper 108.

FIG. 2 illustrates the non-stick liner 202 replaceably affixed to the inner surface 118 of the hopper 108, in accordance with an aspect of this disclosure. It will be appreciated that though FIG. 2 illustrates generally a section of the hopper 108 (e.g., a planar surface) to which the non-stick liner 202 is replaceably affixed, such an illustration is by way of example only and not by way of limitation, since the non-stick liner 202 may be affixed to all of the inner surface 118 or to parts of the inner surface 118. The term “replaceably” may relate to the non-stick liner 202 being removable, for example, by applying a force generally in a direction indicated by an arrow 212 away from a plane of the inner surface 118. The non-stick liner 202 is replaceable by peeling off the non-stick liner 202. The non-stick liner 202 may be removable to apply a new non-stick liner (not shown), for example, when the non-stick liner 202, or parts thereof, starts to wear out or peel off during a normal course of operation of the asphalt paver 102. The non-stick liner 202 is substantially thicker than a non-stick film. The thickness of the non-stick liner 202 is such that the non-stick liner 202 can withstand the heat and abrasiveness of the asphalt 210. For example, the non-stick liner 202 may be replaceably or detachably affixed or coupled to the inner surface 118 in a single layer or in multiple layers as a non-stick tape.

In one aspect, the non-stick liner 202 may be applied to the inner surface 118 as a non-stick tape, or a plurality of non-stick tapes. Such a non-stick tape may cover at least the apron 122 of the hopper 108. In another aspect, the non-stick liner 202 may be shaped as a patch (circular, rectangular, polygonal, etc.) of appropriate thickness to cover parts of or an entirety of the inner surface 118. The non-stick liner 202 may be applied to a bare metal portion and/or a painted portion of the inner surface 118. The non-stick liner 202 may include a fluoroplastic film 204 and a pressure sensitive adhesive backing 208 attached to the fluoroplastic film 204 and the inner surface 118. By way of example only, the pressure sensitive adhesive backing 208 may include silicone material. An exposed surface 206 of the fluoroplastic film 204 may receive the asphalt 210. By way of example only and not by way of limitation, the fluoroplastic film 204 may be a fluoropolymer made of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), perfluoroalkoxy (PFA), although in some aspects of this disclosure lower melting point perfluoropolymers such as HYFLON MFA® provided by Solvay S.A. of Brussels, Belgium, polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP), and/or ethylenechlorotrifluoroethylene (ECTFE) could be used. The fluoroplastic film 204 may further contain additional non-stick solid additives such as graphite, molybdenum disulfide, hexagonal boron nitride, and bronze powder. The fluoroplastic film 204 may further contain additional non-stick liquid additives such as silicone oil and perfluoropolyethers (PFPE). In another aspect of the disclosure, ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) could be used to provide release characteristics for preventing the asphalt 210 from sticking to the inner surface 118.

In one aspect, the non-stick liner 202 may be applied to one or more of the plurality of corners 118A, 118B, 122A, 122B, 408A, 408B where the asphalt 210 may have a tendency to adhere, although the non-stick liner 202 may be applied to any or all parts of the inner surface 118. In another aspect, the non-stick liner 202 may be applied to one or more planar portions or planar surfaces of the inner surface 118 of the hopper 108. In yet another aspect, the non-stick liner 202 may be applied to both planar surfaces as well as one or more of the plurality of corners 118A, 118B, 122A, 122B, 408A, 408B in the inner surface 118 of the hopper 108.

FIG. 3 illustrates a non-stick spray coating 302 affixed to or applied to the hopper 108, in accordance with another aspect of this disclosure. It will be appreciated that though FIG. 3 illustrates generally a section of the hopper 108 to which the non-stick spray coating 302 is applied, such an illustration is by way of example only and not by way of limitation as the non-stick spray coating 302 may be applied to all of the inner surface 118 or to parts of the inner surface 118. As parts of or an entirety of the non-stick spray coating 302 wear out during a normal course of operation of the asphalt paver 102, a new non-stick spray coating (not shown) may be applied. Alternatively or additionally, as the non-stick spray coating 302 wears out, the non-stick liner 202 may be applied to the portions of the non-stick spray coating 302 that wear out and expose a bare metal or a painted portion of the inner surface 118. In one aspect, the non-stick spray coating 302 may be used in conjunction with or as a supplement to the non-stick liner 202. Further, the non-stick spray coating 302 may be of a thickness sufficient to endure the abrasive nature and the high temperature of the asphalt 210 received by the non-stick spray coating 302.

In one aspect, the non-stick spray coating 302 may be applied to cover at least the. corners 122A and 122B of the apron 122 of the hopper 108. In another aspect, the non-stick spray coating 302 may cover other non-apron surfaces or parts of, or an entirety of, the inner surface 118, for example surfaces outside the apron 122. The non-stick spray coating 302 may be applied to a bare metal portion and/or a painted portion of the inner surface 118. The non-stick spray coating 302 may be applied to the inner surface 118 as a single layer coating or as a multiple layer coating. By way of example only and not by way of limitation, the non-stick spray coating 302 may have a chemical composition of a polymer having a chemical formula (C₂F₄)_(n), although other chemical variations of the non-stick spray coating 302 may be used.

In one aspect, the non-stick spray coating 302 may be applied to one or more of the plurality of corners 118A, 118B, 122A, 122B, 408A, 408B where the asphalt 210 may have a tendency to get stuck, although the non-stick spray coating 302 may be applied to any or all parts of the inner surface 118. In another aspect, the non-stick spray coating 302 may be applied to one or more planar portions or planar surfaces of the inner surface 118 of the hopper 108. In yet another aspect, the non-stick spray coating 302 may be applied to both planar surfaces as well as one or more of the plurality of corners 118A, 118B, 122A, 122B, 408A, 408B in the inner surface 118 of the hopper 108, and further to any curved surfaces of the hopper 108 in general.

FIG. 4 illustrates a top view of the hopper 108, in accordance with an aspect of this disclosure. As discussed, the hopper 108 may include numerous edges and corners, including but not limited to the plurality of corners 118A, 118B, 122A, 122B, 408A, 408B. The asphalt 210 falling into the hopper 108 may be contained within a hopper wall 450. In one aspect, the non-stick liner 202 and/or the non-stick spray coating 302 may be applied to the apron 122 forwardly of a line 404, between the line 404 and the inner walls the flashings 129. The non-stick liner 202 and/or the non-stick spray coating 302 may be applied to entirely cover the apron 122, to cover only the corners 122A and 122B, to cover a center portion 406 of the apron 122, hinges 402, apron wings 430, or combinations thereof. The apron wings 430 rotate around the hinges 402 to move the asphalt 210 towards the conveyor 110, when the apron 122 is hydraulic. In another aspect, an entire area of the apron 122, the corners 122A and 122B, and/or the center portion 406 may be covered with the non-stick liner 202. In this aspect, the remaining non-apron areas of the inner surface 118 behind the line 404 (between the line 404 and the hopper wall 450 near the engine compartment 106) may be covered with the non-stick spray coating 302 or may be left uncovered with the bare metal or the painted portion of the inner surface 118 exposed. For example, the non-apron surfaces may be left uncovered, i.e., without the non-stick liner 202 and only the corners 122A and 122B, the corners 408A and 408B, etc., may be covered with the non-stick liner 202, where a least amount of sliding of the asphalt 210 occurs on the inner surface 118. Such an application of the non-stick liner 202 only to the plurality of corners 118A, 118B, 122A, 122B, 408A, 408B may reduce overall costs associated with the non-stick liner 202 and allows a longer lifetime for the non-stick liner 202.

In an alternative aspect, the entire area of the apron 122, the corners 122A and 122B, and/or the center portion 406 may be covered with the non-stick spray coating 302. In this aspect, the remaining non-apron areas of the inner surface 118 behind the line 404 may be covered with the non-stick liner 202 or may be left uncovered with the bare metal or the painted surface of the inner surface 118 exposed. In yet another alternative aspect, the non-stick liner 202 and/or the non-stick spray coating 302 may be applied to parts of the inner surface 118 including the apron 122 as and where required. For example, the non-stick liner 202 and/or the non-stick spray coating 302 may only be applied to the plurality of corners 118A, 118B, 122A, 122B, 408A, 408B, where there might be a higher probability of the asphalt 210 sticking to the inner surface 118 of the hopper 108. In another example, the non-stick liner 202 may be applied to the plurality of corners 118A, 118B, 122A, 122B, 408A, 408B, as well as other corners of the inner surface 118, and the planar or non-corner surfaces of the inner surface 118 including the apron 122 may be coated with the non-stick spray coating 302.

FIG. 5 illustrates the non-stick liner 202 applied to the apron 122, when the apron 122 is hydraulic or is hydraulically operated, in accordance with an aspect of this disclosure. The non-stick liner 202 may be applied as indicated by the shaded area in FIG. 5 to cover the apron wings 430 and the hinges 402. Alternatively, as discussed, the non-stick spray coating 302 may be applied to the apron 122, in the shaded area. In one aspect, a combination of the non-stick liner 202 and the non-stick spray coating 302 may be applied to the apron 122. For example, the non-stick liner 202 may cover the corners 122A and 122B and the hinges 402, while the non-stick spray coating 302 may cover the remaining portions of the apron 122.

FIG. 6 illustrates the non-stick liner 202 applied to the apron 122, when the apron 122 is manual or is operated manually, in accordance with an aspect of this disclosure. The non-stick liner 202 may be applied as indicated by the shaded area in FIG. 6. Alternatively, as discussed, the non-stick spray coating 302 may be applied to the apron 122, in the shaded area. In one aspect, a combination of the non-stick liner 202 and the non-stick spray coating 302 may be applied to the apron 122. For example, the non-stick liner 202 may cover the corners 122A and 122B, while the non-stick spray coating 302 may cover the remaining portions of the apron 122.

FIG. 7 illustrates an entirety of the inner surface 118 of the hopper 108 on which the non-stick liner 202 and/or the non-stick spray coating 302 is applied, as indicated by a shaded area, in accordance with as aspect of this disclosure. In one aspect, the entirety of the inner surface 118 is coated with the non-stick liner 202, as indicated by the shaded area in FIG. 7. In an alternative aspect, the entirety of the inner surface 118 is coated with the non-stick spray coating 302, as indicated by the shaded area in FIG. 7. In yet another alternative aspect, a combination of the non-stick liner 202 and the non-stick spray coating 302 may be used on the entirety of the inner surface 118 or portions thereof. For example, to the non-stick liner 202 may be replaceably affixed to at least one of the plurality of corners 118A, 118B, 122A, 122B, 408A, 408B and the remaining areas of the inner surface 118 may be coated with the non-stick spray coating 302. Similarly, for parts of the inner surface 118 where the non-stick spray coating 302 has worn off or abraded under normal usage of the asphalt paver 102, the non-stick liner 202 may be replaceably affixed to those parts of the inner surface 118.

FIG. 8 illustrates the non-stick liner 202 as applied to at least one of the plurality of corners 122A and 122B of the apron 122 in the inner surface 118 of the hopper 108, in accordance with an aspect of this disclosure. As discussed, such an application of the non-stick liner 202 is replaceable in nature, as the non-stick liner 202 may be peeled off, as and when needed. For example, although FIG. 8 illustrates the non-stick liner 202 covering or affixed to the corners 122A and 122B as a non-stick tape, it will be appreciated that the non-stick liner 202 may be affixed to any one or more of the plurality of corners 118A, 118B, 122A, 122B, 408A, 408B, etc. Not coating the primary surfaces or the planar surfaces (where most of the sliding of the asphalt 210 occurs) of the hopper 108 with the non-stick liner 202 saves money, as the non-stick liner 202, which is expensive, is only applied to the plurality of corners 118A, 118B, 122A, 122B, 408A, 408B, where there is less abrasion and more tendency for sticking. Unlike conventional hoppers, where it is more intuitive to put the non-stick film where most of the asphalt 210 would be sliding past, various aspects of this disclosure leave those areas uncovered and only apply the non-stick liner 202 where there is very little sliding, e.g., at the plurality of corners 118A, 118B, 122A, 122B, 408A, 408B, etc.

It will be appreciated that an amount and/or thickness of the non-stick liner 202 and/or the non-stick spray coating 302 is determined based on whether the applied amount of the non-stick liner 202 and/or the non-stick spray coating 302 can withstand abrasiveness and heat of the asphalt 210. Likewise, a location of the application of the non-stick liner 202 and/or the non-stick spray coating 302 in the inner surface 118 may be determined based upon a historic usage of the asphalt paver 102 such that portions of the inner surface 118 where the asphalt 210 may stick are known prior to an operation of the asphalt paver 102. Further, the non-stick liner 202 may be applied based upon incidental or circumstantial events. For example, if the inner surface 118 of the hopper 108 suffers a change in shape (e.g., due to heat, an impact event, etc.), the non-stick liner 202 may be applied to the portion of the inner surface 118 that has undergone a change in shape or a warpage of a portion of the inner surface 118 due to such an event. Under such circumstances, the non-stick liner 202 may be applied as a patch (of an appropriate shape) or a tape over a portion of the inner surface 118 that has bent, rather than covering the entire area of the inner surface 118, resulting in cost savings from a lesser amount of the non-stick liner 202 used.

INSUTARIAL APPLICABILITY

Various aspects of this disclosure relate generally to paving systems, and more particularly, are applicable to a non-stick liner for an asphalt paver.

In a conventional asphalt paving system, a hot mix of asphalt is delivered to the paving system with trucks, remixing transfer equipment, and/or windrow elevators. The asphalt is fed into a hopper of the conventional asphalt paver and from there, to a centrally located conveyor. In such a conventional asphalt paving system, asphalt may become stuck in the corners of the hopper despite design features intended to feed all the asphalt material towards the conveyor (including folding wings of the hopper). When such asphalt becomes stuck, it may cool and become hard. If the cooled and hardened asphalt material then becomes entrained again in the asphalt, it may result in a cold lump in a pavement that cannot then be adequately compacted by the conventional asphalt paver, resulting in lost opportunities for optimal pavement performance. Some conventional paving systems apply a replaceable synthetic coating, particularly a film, with a clamping mechanism to attach the film to a storage container of a paving machine. The storage container to which such a film is applied receives paving material for paving sports surfaces, jogging surfaces, etc. The film coating aims to prevent adhesion of the paving material to the storage container. However, clamping the film is unreliable as the clamps used may come off during operation of the paving machine. Further, clamping the entire inner surface of the storage container with the clamped film increases costs as the film is an expensive item.

Various aspects of this disclosure provide an exemplary solution to the foregoing problem and other problems of the conventional asphalt paver.

Referring to FIG. 9, a method 900 for making the asphalt paver 102 is provided, in accordance with an aspect of this disclosure. FIG. 9 presents the method 900 as a flow diagram, although the method 900 may be understood using other types of presentations such as process diagrams, graphs, etc. In one aspect, one or more processes or operations in the method 900 may be carried out by a machine assembly device (e.g., a robotic spraying device, a non-stick liner placement assembly, etc.). Alternatively, one or more processes of the method 900, or parts thereof, may involve manual intervention. In another aspect, in the method 900, one or more processes or operations, or sub-processes thereof, may be skipped or combined as a single process or operation, or carried out as and when appropriate, but not at all times. The flow of processes or operations in the method 900 may be in any order not limited by the specific order illustrated in FIG. 9. For example, one or more processes or operations may be moved around in terms of their respective orders, or may be carried out in parallel.

The method 900 may begin in an operation 902 in which the hopper 108 may be provided. The hopper 108 may be configured to receive the asphalt 210. A shape and size of the hopper 108 may be varied to accommodate different amounts of the asphalt 210, and to accommodate a speed with which the paving of a road or a worksite is to be carried out by the asphalt paver 102. The hopper 108 may be provided to include the plurality of corners 118A, 118B, 122A, 122B, 408A, 408B over which the asphalt 210 passes. The inner surface 118 of the hopper 108 may be provided to include bare metal and/or painted surfaces. In one aspect of this disclosure, the hopper 108 may include the apron 122. The apron 122 may be hydraulic (e.g., as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5) or manual (e.g., as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7), and is configured to move the asphalt 210 received thereupon to the conveyor 110.

In an operation 904, the non-stick liner 202 and/or the non-stick spray coating 302 may be provided to the entirety or parts of the inner surface 118. For example, the non-stick liner 202 may be applied to one or more of the plurality of corners 118A, 118B, 122A, 122B, 408A, 408B, and/or other corners of the inner surface 118, and the remaining portions of the inner surface 118 may be spray coated with the non-stick spray coating 302. Prior to the hopper 108 being shipped out for field use in the asphalt paver 102, the non-stick liner 202 and/or the non-stick spray coating 302 may be applied to the inner surface 118. In one aspect, providing the non-stick liner 202 and/or the non-stick spray coating 302 may include coupling the non-stick liner 202 and/or the non-stick spray coating 302 to, or only to, the apron 122. For example, the corners 122A and 122B may be covered with the non-stick liner 202 (e.g., a non-stick tape), while the rest of the apron 122 may be spray coated with the non-stick spray coating 302. In another example, all of the apron 122 as well as the center portion 406 of the hopper 108 may be covered with the non-stick liner 202 (e.g., as illustrated in FIG. 5). In one aspect, the non-stick liner 202 and/or the non-stick spray coating 302 may be applied to the inner surface 118 before the hopper 108 receives the asphalt 210 for the first time.

Providing the non-stick liner 202 may include providing the fluoroplastic film 204 and providing the pressure sensitive adhesive backing 208 attached to the fluoroplastic film 204. The pressure sensitive adhesive backing 208 is configured to couple the non-stick liner 202 to the hopper 108, e.g., to the inner surface 118. The fluoroplastic film 204 may then receive the asphalt 210 above 170° C. In one aspect, providing the non-stick liner 202 includes coupling the pressure sensitive adhesive backing 208 of the non-stick liner 202 to a bare metal surface or a painted surface of the hopper 108, e.g., on the inner surface 118. In one aspect, providing the non-stick liner 202 may include providing the non-stick liner 202 only to one or more of the plurality of corners 118A, 118B, 122A, 122B, 408A, 408B, etc., and not to the planar surfaces of the hopper 108. For example, such planar surfaces (both inside and outside the apron 122) may then be left exposed as bare metal or painted surface, or may be covered with the non-stick spray coating 302.

In an operation 906, the non-stick liner 202 may be replaced in portions where the non-stick liner 202 has worn out as a result of usage over time. Such replacement of the non-stick liner 202 may be carried out by removing (e.g., by peeling off) the non-stick liner 202 when and where the non-stick liner 202 may be worn out. Likewise, the non-stick spray coating 302 may be replaced by additional new non-stick spray coating, and/or by the non-stick liner 202, when and where the non-stick spray coating 302 has abraded. For example, in parts of the inner surface 118 where the non-stick spray coating 302 has abraded away, a non-stick tape or a non-stick patch of appropriate thickness, and of an appropriate number of layers (one, two, etc.), may be replaceably applied or affixed. Such application may be carried out prior to or after usage of the asphalt paver 102.

In an operation 908, providing the conveyor 110 is carried out. The conveyor 110 is configured to move the asphalt 210 received on the non-stick liner 202 and/or the non-stick spray coating 302 of the inner surface 118 of the hopper 108 to the paving surface on which the asphalt paver 102 moves. A presence of the non-stick liner 202 and/or the non-stick spray coating 302 aids in substantially all of the asphalt 210 poured into the hopper 108 to be moved to the distribution mechanism and eventually to the screed of the asphalt paver 102 for use in the paving. Therefore, no significant wastage of the asphalt 210 occurs due to the asphalt 210 sticking and cooling in the hopper 108.

It will be appreciated that the foregoing description provides examples of the disclosed system and technique. However, it is contemplated that other implementations of the disclosure may differ in detail from the foregoing examples. All references to the disclosure or examples thereof are intended to reference the particular example being discussed at that point and are not intended to imply any limitation as to the scope of the disclosure more generally. All language of distinction and disparagement with respect to certain features is intended to indicate a lack of preference for those features, but not to exclude such from the scope of the disclosure entirely unless otherwise indicated.

Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.

Additionally, the various aspects of the disclosure, with respect to the non-stick liner 202 and/or the non-stick spray coating 302 set forth herein improve the functioning of the asphalt paver 102 as is apparent from the disclosure hereof. Accordingly, the various aspects of the disclosure improve the functioning of the paving system 100 overall using the asphalt paver 102 in its specific implementation to perform the process set forth by the disclosure and as defined by the claims. 

We claim:
 1. An asphalt paver, comprising: a hopper configured to receive asphalt, the hopper including an inner surface having at least one corner of an apron of the hopper; a non-stick liner replaceably affixed to the at least one corner and configured to prevent the asphalt received at the hopper from sticking to the at least one corner; and a conveyor configured to move the asphalt received on the non-stick liner to a paving surface on which the asphalt paver moves.
 2. The asphalt paver of claim 1, wherein the non-stick liner is replaceably affixed to the apron of the inner surface of the hopper.
 3. The asphalt paver of claim 2, wherein the apron is one of a hydraulic apron or a manual apron.
 4. The asphalt paver of claim 1, wherein the non-stick liner is further replaceably affixed to a planar surface of the hopper.
 5. The asphalt paver of claim 1, wherein the non-stick liner is replaceably affixed to an entirety of the inner surface of the hopper.
 6. The asphalt paver of claim 1, wherein the non-stick liner includes: a fluoroplastic film, and a pressure sensitive adhesive backing attached to the fluoroplastic film, wherein the pressure sensitive adhesive backing is configured to couple the non-stick liner to the hopper, and wherein the fluoroplastic film receives the asphalt above 170° C.
 7. The asphalt paver of claim 6, wherein the pressure sensitive adhesive backing of the non-stick liner is attached to a bare metal surface or a painted surface of the hopper.
 8. The asphalt paver of claim 1, wherein the non-stick liner is replaceably affixed to the hopper as a non-stick tape covering at least the apron of the hopper.
 9. The asphalt paver of claim 8, wherein a portion of the inner surface of the hopper that is not covered by the non-stick tape is covered by a non-stick spray coating.
 10. A method of making an asphalt paver, comprising: providing a hopper configured to receive asphalt, the hopper including an inner surface having at least one corner of an apron of the hopper; and providing a non-stick liner replaceably affixed to the at least one corner and configured to prevent the asphalt received at the hopper from sticking to the at least one corner; and providing a conveyor configured to move the asphalt received on the non-stick liner to a paving surface on which the asphalt paver moves.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the apron is a hydraulic apron or a manual apron.
 12. The method of claim 10, wherein the providing of the non-stick liner includes coupling the non-stick liner to an entirety of the inner surface of the hopper including the apron.
 13. The method of claim 10, wherein the providing the non-stick liner includes: providing a fluoroplastic film, and providing a pressure sensitive adhesive backing attached to the fluoroplastic film, wherein the pressure sensitive adhesive backing is configured to couple the non-stick liner to the hopper, and wherein the fluoroplastic film receives the asphalt above 170° C.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the providing the non-stick liner includes coupling the pressure sensitive adhesive backing of the non-stick liner to a bare metal surface or a painted surface of the hopper.
 15. The method of claim 10, wherein the providing the non-stick liner includes providing a non-stick tape covering at least the apron of the hopper.
 16. The method of claim 15, further comprising: providing a non-stick spray coating to cover a portion of the inner surface of the hopper that is not covered by the non-stick tape.
 17. A hopper of an asphalt paver, comprising: an inner surface including an apron configured to receive an asphalt, the apron including at least one corner; a non-stick tape replaceably affixed to the at least one corner, the non-stick tape configured to prevent the received asphalt from sticking to the at least one corner.
 18. The asphalt paver of claim 17, wherein the non-stick tape is replaceably affixed to an entirety of the apron.
 19. The asphalt paver of claim 18, wherein the apron is one of a hydraulic apron or a manual apron.
 20. The asphalt paver of claim 17, wherein a non-stick spray coating is applied to a portion of the inner surface that is outside the apron of the hopper. 